About Me

Born in August 1887 in Awsworth Notts, to Henry and Sarah Lamin. Elder Sisters Catherine (Kate), Mary Esther and Sarah Anne(Annie) and Elder brother John (Jack).
Educated at Awsworth Board School, just outside Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England.
I served with honour in the 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment seeing front line action in Flanders and Northern Italy from the end of 1916 to January 1920.

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Link to The very first Posts

Helpful Hints

From 1st March 1918 the leap year in 2008 takes the synchronicity of the days and dates away. Decision: I will publish letters a day in advance so that the days of the week coincide, rather than the date.

"New" readers please note that the entries on each page are in reverse order, oldest at the bottom.

It doesn't work quite like a book. To make sense of the whole blog, take the link to the "First Posts", work from the bottom entry upwards and then take the "Newer posts" link at the bottom of each page for the next installment.

Link to The First Post. (New Readers)

At last, someone's read the book and given their opinion. And it's an independant view. Thank you the Daily Express for the review. (Big sigh of relief - they like it!) Any other views?

The Times on-line has published an article I wrote on the use of blogs in school. That's where the idea for this blog came from originally. The article links to the blog and the book. BL32507 9th Y&Lattached R.M.FA.P.OL.1. Box RItalyApril 26/19

Dear Jack Just a line to let you know that I am alright and in good health I have not had any letters for about six weeks now. but I have been moving about a lot I hope I am settled down now till they send me home for good send me a paper or two regular if you can. I have seen no news for a long time. The weather here as been very nice lately. we are in a little country place about like Strelly guarding ammunition etc. there is only about forty of us all together but there is a lot of Italians guarding it too. I hope Agnes is keeping well and all at home. I hope to get a letter from you soon. I expect Willie is getting quite a man now he is turned three expect I am for army of occupation as I have got my 10/6 bonus. How is things going on in England and what do you think about the Fuime job and America.Write soon With Best Love to you bothHarry

APO = Army Post Office. L.1 Box R would be the specific address. Strelly is a small village close to Ilkeston in the East Midlands - when I was a child in the 1950s it was a favourite destination for a country walk or a bike ride. The 10/6 (10 shillings and sixpence = 52.5p) weekly bonus was paid to those soldiers who were entitled to be demobbed but were stuck doing some "useful" task. Harry was helping guard an ammunition dump at Arquata Scriva a few miles from Rivalta Scriva.

The following link (from Wikipedia) could be interesting for non Italian people: the FIUME job, as Harry calls it, was a terrible problem, whose consequences continue today for those Italians who were forced to leave Fiume or for those who decided to remain there. A hard destiny anyway for thousands people.

Fiume(Rijeka) is town in Croatia. Name means river (there is a river in town). In Austro-Hungarian monarchy it was separate territory goverend by hungarians but mostly Croatians and Italians lived there. After WWI Italy claimed Rijeka but Yugoslavia and people from Rijeka had different ideas. For brief time (until 1919) english, french and american troops where stationed in Rijeka. I don't think Harry would like that: it was probably not peaceful job. Reader from Croatia.

Hello Harry:Too bad about being involved in occupation instead of going home, but at least it's better than being occupied with keeping your head down as I am. Just got some ready made smokes tho, and believe me they are grand. Stop by for a read when you have the chance.